Umbrella handle

ABSTRACT

The umbrella handle is of the type generally known as having a flat cross-sectional shape when the umbrella is collapsed in a stowed position and normally includes a telescopic stick with collapsible dome-ribs. The handle includes seats for seating the ends of the dome-ribs and retaining them in a closed position; a portion of the dome ribs seats being displaceably mounted to allow the dome ribs to pivot outwardly of the seats when the umbrella is opened.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Heinz Seitel Solingen-Ohligs, Germany [21 Appl. No. 806,990

[22] Filed Mar. 13, 1969 [45] Patented Apr. 20, 1971 [73] Assignee Telesco Brophey Limited Montreal, Quebec, Canada [32] Priority Mar. 18, 1968 [33] Germany [54] UMBRELLA HANDLE 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 1.1.8. Cl. 135/44 A4511 25/12 Field of Search 135/20, 25, 26, 44; 16/110, 110.5; 74/547 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,434 8/1927 Berkowitz 135/44 1,768,969 7/ 1930 Alland 135/44 3,911,519 11/1968 Weber... 135/26 3,431,925 3/1969 Kraft 135/25 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney-Alan Swabey ABSTRACT: The umbrella handle is of the type generally known as having a flat cross-sectional shape when the umbrella is collapsed in a stowed position and normally includes a telescopic stick with collapsible dome-ribs. The handle includes seats for seating the ends of the dome-ribs and retaining them in'a closed position; a portion of the dome ribs seats being displaceably mounted to allow the dome ribs to pivot outwardly of the seats when the umbrella is opened.

L ""IIIIZZZ F'i +1- PATENTEnAPRzolsn 3,575,186

I l I INVEN TOR BY ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an umbrella, especially an umbrella having a flat substantially rectangular or oval cross-sectional shape in the stowed condition and a corresponding flat handle with a pair of recesses for seating the ends of the dome-ribs when the umbrella is closed.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known to make the handle for a flat umbrella of this kind with two lateral chambers or pockets facing each other and accommodating the ends of the dome ribs when the umbrella is closed, the recesses are normally open at the top and are defined at the sides by flangelike walls. It is also known to provide a central recess in the handle concentric with the umbrella stick, for receiving the sleeve of the umbrella slide when the said umbrella is shortened.

When in these known handles recesses are provided for seating the dome-rib ends, it is necessary to move the handle axially in order to align and seat the dome-rib ends after the dome has been closed on the stick. Care must also be taken to ensure that all the dome-rib ends are captured in the interior of the recess; this requires careful manipulation of the umbrella which is not always possible when in a rush.

Summary of Invention It is the aim of the invention to reduce the above disadvantages with this type of umbrella and to produce a handle in which the dome-rib ends can be moved in or out of the recesses without the necessity of axially moving the umbrella stick or the handle.

A construction in accordance with the present invention includes an umbrella handle adapted to fit at one end of an umbrella stick, a handle comprising lateral members extending normal to the axis of the stick. Means define a dome-rib seat on the lateral members and displaceable retaining means normally retain the dome-ribs in the dome-rib seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, preferred embodiments thereof, and in which:

FIG. I is an elevation view partly in cross section showing an umbrella handle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a detail of the handle shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross section taken through a detail of the handle in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view partly in cross section showing an umbrella handle according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of a detail of still another embodiment of the invention.

In the FlGS., the same parts bear the same reference numerals. Handles t3 and 8' illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 respectively is fixed to the end of umbrella stick 2, and define a pair of recesses in the laterally extending handle portions 7 and 7 located diametrically of umbrella stick 2. The recesses l and II seat the ends 3 of inner dome-rib members 9 of the canopy dome structure, when the umbrella is closed. The dome-ribs 9, 10 of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 are of the folding type, however, they could well be of the telescopic type. The bottom wall of the recesses are formed by the lateral extensions 7 and 7 and the recesses are defined laterally by flangelike walls Ill and II.

The handle 8 and 8' have a centrally located tubular portion 4 concentric with the stick 2 which accommodates the sleeve 5 of the runner, when the stick 2 is telescoped and the umbrella is closed.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the outer wall portions 113 of recesses 1 are pivotally mounted to the edge of lateral extension 7 biased upwardly by a spring 12, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, and rotatable about a pivot pin 14. Spring 12 is arranged on pivot pin 14 in such a manner that, when the spring is not in tension, pivoting wall portion 13 is approximately normal to lateral extension 7. In this position, it retains the dome-rib ends 3 in recess 1. When the umbrella is being opened, the dome-ribs 9, 10 are pivoted away from the umbrella stick 2. This pivoting movement causes the tips 3 to press against pivoting wall 13 against the spring 12 thus deflecting it outwardly about the axis of rotation of pin 14. After the umbrella has been opened and all of the dome-rib ends 3 have left recess 1, pivoting wall portion 13 returns once more to its upward position of rest under the action of spring 12.

When it is required to close the umbrella into the dome-ribs tips 3 into the recesses 1 the pivoting wall portion 13 can be manually depressed against the urging of the spring 12 to allow the tips 3 to pass into the recesses 1.

The action of leaf spring 15. illustrated in F IG. 3 is substantially the same as that already described. In the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 there is no end wall portion but there are only the sidewall portions 11 extending upwardly from the lateral extension 7. In this case, the leaf spring 15 constitutes in its position of rest a dome-rib displaceable retaining means for retaining the ends 3 in recesses 1, and is pressed down against its own spring force when the dome-rib ends 3 move away from the umbrella stick 2 as the umbrella is opened, and when the umbrella is closed towards the umbrella stick 2. Whenthe counterpressure ceases, the leaf spring 15 snaps back automatically into a retaining position. The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in that the complete lateral extension 7 including the flangelike walls 11' defining the recesses is pivoted about the base of the tubular portion 4 of the handle 8'. In this case, the pivoting lateral extensions 7' which are pivoted about the shaft 16 includes a spring mechanism similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2 for urging the pivoted lateral extension 7 to the full line position shown in FIG. 4. As the dome-rib ends 3 are pivoted outwardly, they press against the end wall 11 of the pivoted lateral extension 7, forcing the lateral extension 7 to pivot downwardly against the action of the spring and about the shaft 16 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4.

When it is required to close the umbrella, the pivoted lateral extension 7' can be pivoted downwardly against the spring manually in order to allow the dome-rib ends 3 to align themselves with a recess 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the extension 7" is molded integral with walls 13'', i.e., the pivot wall 13" is integral with the lower wall and is formed as a thinner web at the lower edge permitting the wall 13" to be displaced outwardly due to pressure exerted by rib portions 3, and having sufficient stiffness to return to the normal position shown.

Iclaim:

1. In an umbrella, a stick and handle transversely fixed on the lower end thereof,

said handle including diametrically-opposed lateral members extending transversely of the axis of said stick, said handle including flangelike walls defining dome-rib seats on the lateral members,

said dome-rib seats opening in flanking relation along said stick,

said rib seats including displaceable abutment portions normally urged into a position to retain dome-ribs in said rib seats, said abutment portions being displaceable diametrically by movement of said ribs out of said seats as the umbrella is erected.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said displaceable abutment portions comprise a leaf spring extending vertically in spaced relation from said stick and displaceable downwardly and diametrically as the umbrella is erected.

means normally biasing said pivoted wall portion toward an erect position in spaced relation from said stick.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said displaceable abutment portions comprise the entire rib seats pivoted at the base of said stick on spaced parallel axes, and spring means normally urging said seat vertically toward said stick. 

1. In an umbrella, a stick and handle transversely fixed on the lower end thereof, said handle including diametrically-opposed lateral members extending transversely of the axis of said stick, said handle including flangelike walls defining dome-rib seats on the lateral members, said dome-rib seats opening in flanking relation along said stick, said rib seats including displaceable abutment portions normally urged into a position to retain dome-ribs in said rib seats, said abutment portions being displaceable diametrically by movement of said ribs out of said seats as the umbrella is erected.
 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said displaceable abutment portions comprise a leaf spring extending vertically in spaced relation from said stick and displaceable downwardly and diametrically as the umbrella is erected.
 3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said flangelike walls include an outer wall connected to a relatively thinner section, the outer wall comprising said displaceable abutment.
 4. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said displaceable abutment portion comprises a wall portion pivoted to an edge of the laterally extending members.
 5. The structure as claimed in claim 1, including spring means normally biasing said pivoted wall portion toward an erect position in spaced relation from said stick.
 6. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said displaceable abutment portions comprise the entire rib seats pivoted at the base of said stick on spaced parallel axes, and spring means normally urging said seat vertically toward said stick. 